Skip to content

‘Fabric of society’ hangs in balance of AI regulation, tech minister warns

Saqib Bhatti minister for tech has warned of the dangers of getting AI regulation wrong.
Image credit: CSA Catapult

Getting AI regulation wrong could “affect the very fabric of our society” but getting it right could make the UK “pioneers” of humanity-changing technology, Britain’s newest minister for tech has said.

Saqib Bhatti, who was appointed as minister for tech and the digital economy last month, said there is a considerable opportunity for the UK amid the AI boom but also significant pitfalls.

In a wide-ranging interview – his first in the role – Bhatti discussed the EU’s AI Act, what a general election means for ongoing tech bills, and criticisms over the tech department’s foray into the ‘wokeism’ debate.

Bhatti’s brief includes AI safety, which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made a cornerstone of his premiership. In early November, the UK hosted the world’s first AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park. It resulted in an agreement with 28 nations and the European Union to identify and understand the risks of advanced AI systems.

“If we get this right [AI regulation], in this country we’re going to be the pioneers of some life-changing and humanity-changing technology,” Bhatti told UKTN.

“And if you get it wrong, it could affect the very fabric of our society. I think the approach of being principled-based, focused on understanding the risks, but also not stifling innovation and not losing the chance or the opportunity completely fits with what we’re doing.”

Earlier this month, the EU reached a provisional deal for landmark rules governing the use of AI. It puts the EU first out of the blocks in the AI regulation race. The US has issued an executive order on AI safety.

The UK, meanwhile, has said it won’t rush to regulate AI in “the short term” and will be publishing expert responses to its AI white paper next year.

Asked if the UK is falling behind Europe in AI regulation, Bhatti said: “No, I don’t think we are. But I don’t just say that on a whim. Having spoken to stakeholders, having spoken to counterparts across the world, we’ve taken a principle-based approach on AI.”

Could the UK borrow from the EU’s AI Act? There is precedence – of sorts. The UK kept Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) after leaving the EU.

It streamlined data protection rules for businesses operating across both geographical markets.

Some see AI regulation as an opportunity for the UK to create a competitive advantage by developing a more open regime, a so-called ‘Brexit dividend’.

But regulatory divergence can cause problems for companies – particularly startups – operating in both the EU and the UK. And for many companies, it is often simpler to adhere to the more stringent rules.

“If the question is around interoperability, I’m confident that we’ll find a way through that because we’ll be leading the charge,” Bhatti said, adding that the UK will “continue to have conversations” with EU counterparts.

Looming general election

Bhatti was appointed as minister for tech on 13 November, replacing Paul Scully in a government reshuffle.

Alongside AI, Bhatti’s brief includes online safety, digital regulation, digital skills and semiconductors.

Within 24 hours of his appointment, he was at the dispatch box for the report stage of the Digital Markets Bill, a piece of legislation aiming to boost consumer protections.

In the month since he has been meeting UK tech stakeholders, including a visit to the compound semiconductor cluster in South Wales.

“It was a very deliberate visit because I just wanted to make sure that we are seeing the very best of British,” he said.

Meanwhile, the shadow of a general election hangs over the government’s 2024 legislative agenda, which includes five bills affecting the UK tech sector.

If the Conservative Party were to lose – Labour is currently 13 points ahead in the polls – then all bills are automatically scrapped.

Is there a race against the clock to pass tech legislation before an election, which must take place by January 2025?

Bhatti says no, adding that “the game’s not over yet” despite Labour consistently polling higher than the Tories – including among founders.

Bhatti adds that the Digital Markets Bill has cross-party support, suggesting some legislation might be revived under a Labour government.

Wokeism wrangling

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), which was formed by Sunak in February, has broadly built up good faith with the tech sector this year.

The government’s role in the rescue of Silicon Valley Bank UK by HSBC in particular was well-received by startups and investors.

But for some, that has been undermined by DSIT wading into so-called culture wars.

Michelle Donelan, the tech secretary, attacked what she describes as the “slow creep of wokeism” in scientific research in an October speech.

Speaking to the UKTN Podcast, Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon, CEO of Stemettes, questioned whether the UK could really be a science and tech superpower while fixating on wokeism debates.

Bhatti claims the issues are important to voters.

“These are conversations that people have with us as politicians, they don’t just come out of nowhere,” the MP for Meriden said.

“So I think when you use woke – of course, it’s quite broad-ranging – but what I see are real issues that are affecting people.”

One issue with a tangible effect on businesses is the UK’s digital skills gap.

Bhatti, who co-chaired the Digital Skills Council, said equipping people with tech knowledge will be a key focus next year and praised the work of bootcamps.

Bhatti cited his brother, who did a degree in pharmacy but changed careers after learning how to code at a skills bootcamp.

“I will probably be encouraging the private sector to do more in terms of coming forward, because ultimately it’s a win-win scenario,” Bhatti said.

Topics

Register for Free

Get daily updates and enjoy an ad-reduced experience.

Already have an account? Log in